Movable awning formed by plates



Jan. 18, 1955 5. Mi ZVEIBIL MOVABLE AWNING FORMED BY PLATES Filed June 12. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

INVEN TOR. Salvaabr 1/41/59: ZZe/Zz/ Jan. 18, 1955 s. M. Z VEIB|L 2,599,323

MOVABLE AWNING FORMED BY PLATES Filed June 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 on \D United States Patent MOVABLE AWNING FORMED BY PLATES Salvador Matheus Zveibil, Sao Paulo, Brazil Application June 12, 1952, Serial No. 293,101 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-62) My invention relates to improvements in expansible and retractable awnings the roof of which comprises a series of overlapping parallel lamina, plates or panels formed of metal or other materials, the awning being suitable for industrial and commercial establishments, markets, garages and other purposes or structures in which an efficient and suitable protection is required against rain and sun.

My present invention is an improvement on the awning structure disclosed in my Patent No. 2,581,827, granted January 8, 1952. The awning of my present invention includes overlapping parallel plates or panels having a structure similar to that disclosed in my patent.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an awning which is extremely practical and efficient and economical to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved awning structure, in which the series of awning plates or panels are readily extended or contracted and also readily moved laterally relative to each other and the supporting structure.

In accordance with my present invention, the improved awning, which may be attached to any suitable supporting structure includes a series of individual overlapping parallel panels or plates extending outwardly from the supporting structure, these plates or panels being supported by a plurality of spaced arms extending thereunder and arranged to swing laterally or horizontally from pivot supports so that the series of plates may be shifted laterally in any direction and still maintained in parallel relationship.

An awning of this type has the advantage that while the supporting arms are pivoted to a fixed supporting means, they may be swung laterally through a considerable arc approximating 180, thereby greatly enlarging the protection from rain or from the suns rays.

In a preferred construction, the arms comprise a brace structure including means for pivotally supporting one end thereof on a vertical pivot axis, and panel supporting means pivoted to each arm for supporting each panel thereon, such panel supporting means for all of the arms for a single panel being arranged in the same relationship, so that the panels will be maintained parallel during the swinging of the arms. In this construction, the relationship is such that when the arms are swung in one direction from a position straight out from the supporting structure, the panels are shifted in that direction to an extent corresponding to their distance from the pivot axes of the arm and also contracted so that the overlap between one panel and the next lower outer panel is increased.

The invention includes an improved arm structure and cooperating panel supports described more fully here-- inafter. Other features and advantages of the improved awning of the present invention are also described in detail hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating a preferred embodiment.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved awning in which the parts are constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention, the awning being illustrated as being mounted on the side of a building over a window;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking down on the awning shown in Fig. 1 after the arms and plates of the awning have been swung or shifted to the left, the awning being shown in partly retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the elements of the awning swung further to the left and further retracted;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of one of the plate or panel supports carried by the arms of the awning.

Referring to the drawings, an awning constructed according to my invention comprises a series of parallel movable overlapping plates, lamina or panels 10 extending outwardly from the building or other structure on which they are supported and generally parallel thereto. The panels 10 are carried on a plurality of spaced supporting arms 12, two of such arms being shown in the drawings, each of which is pivotally carried by a bracket or support 14 attached to the side of a building 16, or other supporting structure on which the awning is mounted. Each arm 12 comprises a braced structure which is pivoted on its support 14 on a vertical pivot axis which permits the swinging of the arm through a considerable angle.

Each of the arms 12 as shown more in detail in Fig. 4 is a rigid structure formed of two tubular outwardly extending members 18 and 20, the member 18 extending horizontally, and outwardly with its outer end welded or otherwise attached to the outer end of the member 20, thereby forming a generally V-shaped structure. The members 18 and 20 are in the same vertical plane and braced with respect to each other by an inside tubular V-shaped brace 22 for strengthening the arm. The upper and lower ends of the brace 22 are welded to the member 20 while the V-point of this brace is welded to the member 18 at approximately the position shown in Fig. 4..

The rigid arm 12 is pivoted or hinged to the wall bracket 14 by a pair of hinges 24 associated respectively with the members or branches 18 and 20. These hinges include tubular portions 26 respectively welded to the ends of themembers 18 and 20, the tubular portions 26 extending between spaced tubular members 28 for each hinge and being held therein by means of hinge pins 30. The members 18 and 20 are arranged in the same vertical plane and the hinge pins 30 are on the same vertical axis. The wall brackets 14 are shown as including attachment lugs 32 by which the brackets are attached to the supporting wall 16, or to any supporting structure by means of bolts 34;

In accordance with the invention, the arms 12 extend parallel to each other and the plates or panels 10 are supported directly on the downwardly sloping members or branches 20 of these arms. The means for supporting each plate 10 on the pair of arms is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 and includes a vertically extending pin 36 on each arm for each plate 10, located preferably at the position of the inner portion of the plate, or in back of it. The pins 36 are fixed in the branches 20 and each extends through abearing member 38 having a horizontal bearing surface.

The means for supporting plates 10 includes a metal support or arm 40 having a flat upper surface portion or plate 42, a strengthening flange or web 44 to the wide inner end of which is attached, by welding or otherwise, a tubular bearing member 46 adapted to fit over one of the pins 36 and rest on the surface of the bearing member 38. The pin 36 is arranged to extend vertically, While the plate 42 of the arm or support 40 slopes down- Wardly and outwardly to the or panels 10.

In the drawings, a single arm or bracket 40 is used for supporting one of the plates 10 on each arm 12 of the awning. The plates 10 as shown in detail in Fig. 4 are provided at their upper edge with an upwardly and forwardly curving claw-like flange 48 and at their lower edges with a downwardly and rearwardly extending clawlike flange 50 which are utilized in securing the plates to the arms or supports 40. The supports 40 each have at or hook members 5.2 attached to Patented Jan. 18, 1955 view through the awning While the member 20 extends downwardly extent desired for the plates and at their lower ends a claw 3 I is fixed to a pair of supports by inserting the flange 48 inside the claws 52, while the flange 50 is snapped over the claws 54. This structure and relationship is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Theplates 10 may be plain or corrugatedlengthwise as shown in Fig.4.

Each of the series .of plates;or panels 10,. except for the lowermost,.overlaps the next succeeding plate or panel so that the; flange 50 extends downwardly in front of a flange 48.

The awning, when'attached to a wall or supporting structure, includes a fixed upper panel or plate having an upwardly extending portion fixed to the wall and a laterally extending. portion supported on and attached to outwardly-extending brackets 56 carried respectively on the ,tops of the members 14. The. plate 55 includes a downwardly extending curved flange 58 which is in front of the flange 48 of the uppermost plate or panel 10. The lowermost plate orpanel 10 supports a vertical board or panel 60 extending along the. front of the awning and which. is arranged for receiving the inscription of the establishment on which the awning is mounted. The member 60 is shown as a plate having a hook-shaped upper flange 61 hooked in the members 54 and flange 50.

vThe awning of the present invention is an extensible and retractable awning and it is also an awning in which the plates or panels are laterally shiftable with respect to each other by swinging the arms 12 either to the right or to the left, these arms being adapted to swing through an angle of approximately 180. The position of the plates or panelsof the awning when the arms 12 are moved from the fully'extended position of the plates shown in Fig. 1, with the. arms 12 straight out from the building, is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The shifting of the awning plates to one side or the other of the position shown in Fig. 1 is possible because of the parallel arrangement of the arms 12 and the pivoting of the plates by the bearing 'members 36, 38 and 46. The arms 12 are tied together in parallel relationby the plates 10 and. when the arms are swung sidewise on their pivots, the plates maintain their parallel positions with respect to each other and the supporting structure, but they are shifted in accordance with the movements of the pivot pins 36 carried by the arms 12. The plates 10. therefore, take the relative positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when the arms 12 are pivoted around the positions shown in these views. In Fig. 3, the awning is almost completely collapsed, sufficient space being provided under supports 40 to accommodate the next lower plate as it is moved back. Where the awning is placed over a window as shown in Fig. 1, for example, the plates 10 may be moved for a part of the morning to one side of the window and for a part of the afternoon to the other side of the window, one of these positions being shown in Fig. 2.

The awning structure. as shown more in detail in Fig. 4.of the drawings. includes means for maintaining the arms 12in any desired angular position with respect to the supporting wall 16, this means including a bar or rod 62 carried in s aced brackets 64 mounted on the member 18 of one of the arms 12. The bar 62 is biased toward the member 23 of the lower hinge 24 by a spring 66. and the member 28 is provided with peripherally spaced holes 68 for receiving the end of the bar 62. The bar 62 is movable endwise against the action of the sprin 66 by means of a tie-rod 70 supported in a bracket 71 and having a loop at its downwardly extending end ada ted to be en a ed by a pole 72 (Fig. 1) carryin a hook. The awning may be fixed in anv desired position by releasing the bar 62 and swinging the awning at the same time by means of the pole 72. The awning may be swun to any desired position as described above.

-While the plates or panels 10 may be merely snapped on to the supports 4!). it is to be understood that they may be otherwise fixed b welding or by means of screw bolts or rivets. it is furthermore to be understood that the number of plates 1!} and the number of supportin arms 12 may be varied according to the dimensions of the awning. Where the plates 10 are relatively long, three or more supporting arms 12 may be employed and it is to be understood that the plates themselves may be made of aluminum, plastic, eternite, glass, or other material.

The awning of the present invention is suitable for various purposes, is simple to manufacture, light in weight, and easy to operate. The center of gravity of the awning is always in the same horizontal plane during the swiveling motion so that the friction to be overcome in moving which the awning is to be mounted, a plurality of spaced parallel arms by which said plates are supported, said arms being arranged to extend outwardly fromthe supporting structure, spaced parallel supports for said arms arranged to beattached to the supporting structure, the inner end of each arm being pivotally attached to its support on a vertical axis permitting the horizontal swinging of said arm, and a plate supporting means pivotally attached to each arm for pivotally supporting each plate on said arm, all of the plurality of plate-supporting means for each plate being pivoted to the respective arms in the same relative positions, whereby the plates of said series are maintained in parallel relationship during the swinging of said arms on their vertical pivot axes for the purpose of laterally shifting and translating the awning plates. bodily with respect to each other and to thereby contract or expand the awning with respect to the supporting'structure coincident with the increase or decrease respectively of the overlap of the plates.

.2. An awning as claimed in claim 1, in which the plate-supporting means comprises a vertical pivot pin carried by said arm, and an outwardly-extending arm the inner end of which is pivotally supported on said pin.

3. An awning as claimed in claim 1, in which said plate-supporting means for said plate is pivoted to the awning arms at a position adjacent the inner edge of the plate, whereby the inner portion of the next outer plate in the series may be moved inwardly relatively to said first-mentioned plate when the awning plates are shifted from one position to a less extended awning position.

4. An awning as claimed in claiml, including a latch means operatively associated with at least one of said arms and the support therefor to retain the arms of the awning in any selected angular position with respect to the supporting structure.

5. In an awning for attachment to a supporting structure including a series of individual rigid overlapping parallel panels arranged to extend generally parallel to the supporting structure on which the awning is to be mounted, a pluralityof similar spaced parallel rigid arms by which said panels are supported, said arms being arranged to extend outwardly from the supporting structure under said series of panels, a support for each arm arranged to be attached to the supporting structure, a pivot means having a vertical axis by which the inner end of said arm is pivotally attached to said support permitting the horizontal swinging of said arm, the upper portion of each arm sloping downwardly from its support, and a panel-supporting means pivoted to the upper portion of each arm adjacent the inner portion of each panel for supporting each panel on said arm, all of the plurality of panel-supporting means for each panel being pivoted to the respective arms in the same relative positions, whereby the panels of said series are maintained in parallel relationship during the swinging of said arms on their pivot axes for the purpose of shifting and translating the awning panels bodily with respect to each other and to thereby contract or expand the awning with respect to the supporting structure coincident with the increase or decrease respectively in the overlap of the awning panels. A

6. An awning as claimed in claim 1 in which each arm is pivotally attached to its support by a hinge having a vertical pivot axis.

7. In an awning of the type including a series of separate elongated parallel overlapping plates mounted on a plurality of spaced parallel arms, each plate overlapping an adjacent plate of the series, spaced parallel supports one for each arm for mounting said arms on a supporting structure, the inner ends of the plurality of arms being pivotally attached by pivoting means respectively to said supports on vertical parallel pivot axes whereby the arms may be swung laterally to expand and contract the series of awning plates, and means for pivotally supporting and securing each awning plate to each arm on a .vertical pivot axis, said awning plate-supporting means for the series of plates being located respectively in the same relative positions with respect to the plates adjacent one of the edges thereof and parallel to said pivot axes whereby said arms are main; lined in parallel relationship when they are swung from one position to another, said plates being translatable bodily generally in their lengthwise direction from an initial position and maintained in parallel relationship when, the outer ends of the arms of the awning are swung laterally from their positions corresponding to said initial position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown Aug. 1, 1950 Drake Aug. 14, 1951 Mullin Oct. 30, 1951 Zveibil Jan. 8, 1952 

